iPhone Text Message Sound Not Working? Here's the Fix

User Concern

“After updating to iOS 18, I have noticed that I no longer get sound notifications for text/imessage unless I have the phone unlocked and Messages app opened. Has anyone experienced this and is there a way to fix this issue?”

Many iPhone users have recently reported that they are not receiving text notifications after updating to iOS 17/18. This can be quite inconvenient, as it may cause them to miss important text messages and iMessages.

If your iPhone isn't alerting you to new text messages, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll explain why your iPhone text message sound is not working and offer some simple solutions to fix this problem.

Why Is My iPhone Not Making Sound When I Get A Text?

If there is no sound when you get a text on your iPhone, there could be several reasons behind this. Some of the most common causes include:

• You have accidentally activated the mute switch.
• The alert volume on your iPhone may be too low, so you can't hear it.
• "Do Not Disturb" may have been enabled.
• You may have enabled "Hide alerts" on the message threads.
• "Deliver Quietly" may have been enabled on the Message app
• The text tone that you are using may be too low.
• You may also have changed the text tone for a certain contact to "None."
• Your iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth device
• Your iPhone is experiencing network connectivity issues.
• The version of iOS running on your iPhone may be outdated.

Quick Fixes for iPhone Text Message Sound Not Working

To eliminate any simple issues, it is a good idea to try the following quick fixes;

• Check the mute switch on your iPhone and ensure it isn't turned on.
• Ensure your iPhone's notification sound is enabled and the volume level is sufficient to hear it.
• Check the "Do Not Disturb" option and turn it off.
• Check if "Hide Alerts" is enabled in the Message thread. If yes, turn it off.
• Change the Notification Banners to "Persistent."
• Check if you are fltering unknown senders and blocked contacts.
• Check if your Notifications are stacked together. If yes, un-stack them.
• Ensure that "Deliver Quietly" is disabled for the Messages app.
• Choose another text tone if you think the one you have is not loud enough.
• Check the custom settings of specific contacts and ensure they have not been changed to "None" for ringtone or text alert.
• Check your iPhone's Date & Time settings and choose "Set Automatically."
• If you have paired your iPhone with an Apple Watch or any other device, ensure the notifications are not bypassing the device.

More Solutions to Fix iPhone Message Sound Not Working

1. Check Bluetooth Connections

It is not uncommon for Bluetooth connections to interfere with iPhone's notifications. Sometimes, you may need to turn off Bluetooth completely to receive the alerts normally.

If you regularly pair your iPhone with an Apple Watch or other wearables, simply turning off Bluetooth may not work long-term. Instead, delete the Bluetooth device and re-sync it to see if the issue is resolved.

2. Check Notifications Settings for Messages

If you iPhone has no sound or alert on text messages, you should check if you have notifications enabled for messages. If not, just follow these simple steps:

Open the Settings on your iPhone and go to Notifications > Messages. Make sure the Allow Notifications toggle is turned on. Then, ensure that Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners are all selected.

3. No Sound When iPhone is Locked

iPhone text message sound not working when locked? If you can't get any notifications or hear sound alert of incoming messages when the device locks, you can easily resolve this by enabling “Show on Lock Screen” in Settings.

To do that, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and ensure that Show on Lock Screen is toggled on.

To make sure that the problem is not with the sound alerts, also go to Settings > Notifications > Messages and make sure a sound is selected and it doesn’t show None or Vibrate Only.

4. Force Quit the Message App

If the Messages app isn't sending alerts for incoming texts, it may be malfunctioning. Usually, you can fix this by force quitting the app and reopening it.

• For iPhone X and newer: Swipe halfway up to open multitasking, then swipe up on the Messages app to close it.
• For iPhone 8, 7, and earlier: Double-press the Home button, then swipe up on the Messages app to close it.

5. Restart Your iPhone

Your iPhone could also experience a system glitch that could be interfering with the notifications and alerts. Restarting your iPhone is the best way to refresh the device and eliminate these glitches;

• For newer iPhones: Hold the Volume and Power buttons together until the Power Off slider appears. Slide to turn off, then hold the Power button to turn it back on.
• For older iPhones: Hold the Power button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide to turn off, then press the Power button to turn it back on.

6. Update to the Latest iOS

You should also consider updating your iPhone to the latest versions of iOS 18. This is another good way to get rid of any system bugs that could be affecting the device.

To update the iPhone to the latest iOS version, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and if an update is available, tap Download and Install to install it.

7. Reset Network Settings

Since network issues could be causing this problem, resetting the network settings can be a good solution as it will refresh the connection to Apple Messages Server.

To reset the network settings on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings and enter your passcode when prompted.

This solution will not affect any of the data on your device, but it will remove all saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings. You will, therefore, need to re-enter these passwords when the device restarts.

8. Factory Reset Your iPhone (Data Loss)

If all else fails, you may need to factory reset the iPhone. This is an excellent way to eliminate all corrupt data and settings that may be causing the problem, but it will cause total data loss. You may need to backup the data on your iPhone before doing this.

Once all the data on your device is safely backed up to iTunes or iCloud, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and then select Erase All Content and Settings.

After that, the iPhone will restart and you can set it up as new or restore from backup.

Best Way to Fix iPhone Text Sound Not Working (No Data Loss)

The iPhone text sound problem may still not be resolved even if you follow the above tips. Don't worry, you can try third-party iOS repair tool. FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is developed by experts to fix all iPhone/iPad issues related to iOS. It is secure to use and no data will get lost.

Here is why FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is preferred by most iPhone users:

• A better iTunes alternative to fix iPhone problems, including iPhone boot loop, device won't turn on, stuck in black/white screen, recovery/DFU Mode, etc.
• The Standard Mode can fix most iOS issues without affecting the data on the device.
• Compatible with all iOS versions and models, including the newest iOS 18/17 and iPhone 16/15/14.

Download FoneGeek iOS System Recovery on your computer, then follow the steps below to fix this text sound issue on your iPhone:

Step 1. Install and run the software, then select "Stardard Mode" from the main interface to continue.

Step 2. Using a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer, click "Next" and wait for the program to detect the device.

You must put the device into Recovery or DFU mode if it is undetected. All the details are displayed on the screen.

Step 3. Now, you'll be required to download the matching firmware for the device. Just click on "Download" to start downloading.

Step 4. Once the download is complete, click on "Fix Now". Your iPhone will reboot automatically after the fixing process is complete.

Conclusion

You can try all the solutions above to fix the issue of iPhone text message sound not working. However, if the problem persists, it might be due to a deeper software or hardware issue.

In that case, contacting Apple Support is your best option. Apple technicians can diagnose the problem and recommend the right solution. Keep in mind that if your device is out of warranty, repairs could be expensive.